Young patients and staff on the children’s ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital received a surprise visit from cast members of Darlington Hippodrome’s spectacular production, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan.
This year’s smash hit stars panto legend Christopher Biggins as Mrs Smee, North East favourite Steve Arnott as Captain Hook, Rikki Jay as Smee, Peter Peverley as Starkey, James Hameed as Peter, Sheri Lineham as Wendy and Tegan Bannister as Tinkerbell.
The cast handed out gifts of book tokens and selection boxes donated by Waterstones Darlington and Morrisons at Morton Park.
The characters spread some much-needed festive cheer to children for whom the festive period has not been entirely care-free.
Read more: We went to watch Christmas panto at Darlington Hippodrome - here's what we thought
Faces lit up when Christopher Biggins first walked in and within seconds he was making the youngsters laugh with his witty remarks.
He spoke with one boy, Henry, who had suffered an allergic reaction to nuts, but Biggins had him laughing away in no time.
The panto royalty celebrated his birthday three days prior and the cast and the whole auditorium sang Happy Birthday to the star.
One little girl, Sarah, was in awe when she saw a real-life fairy (Tegan Bannister as Tinkerbell) and proudly announced to her that she was three when the actress presented her with a Cadbury’s selection box.
Read more: 'People want to have a good laugh': Biggins & cast start rehearsing Darlington panto
Staged by Crossroads, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, and the team behind Darlington’s pantomimes since 1999, The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan features all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Darlington audiences have come to expect in a fantastic new production of the well-loved story.
In a country hit by the cost-of-living crisis, we could all do with some escapism to take our minds off life’s difficulties, and that’s what this year’s pantomime has done for thousands so far as audiences flock to the theatre each night.
If you haven’t already, grab a ticket to this year’s pantomime by contacting the Box Office on 01325 405405 or visit: www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
Read next:
- Cast of Peter Pan thrills audience on opening night at Darlington Hippodrome
- Behind the scenes as Darlington Majestic Theatre to stage Aladdin pantomime
- Full cast revealed as panto legend Christopher Biggins joins Darlington Hippodrome's pantomime
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